THE BAL Sahara Conference in Morocco saw the final four teams, Club Africain, Al Ahly, AS Ville de Dakar and Conference hosts secure their playoff spots for Kigali, Rwanda, from 22-31 May. The Big Tip Off writer Sandisiwe Msibi shares her insights on the concluded Conference.
What unfolded was one of the most competitive and unpredictable conference campaigns in BAL history, defined by overtime thrillers, record-breaking performances, injury setbacks and a dramatic final-day playoff race.
Six teams from across North and West Africa battled for four coveted playoff spots.
Final Standings
The Sahara Conference produced a fascinating final table, with the fourth playoff spot decided on the final day.
Club Africain secured the top spot with a 4-1 record, becoming the first team from the conference to punch their playoff ticket on April 29. The Tunisian debutants exceeded all expectations, while hosts FUS Rabat and former champions Al Ahly rounded out the top three. The last playoff spot was secured by Senegal’s champion, ASC Ville de Dakar.
Records & Notable Numbers
There can’t be a mention of this conference without mentioning close games, and they were delivered in abundance. The final standings were ultimately determined by which teams could execute under pressure and which crumbled when it mattered most.
The four playoff-bound teams, Club Africain, Al Ahly, FUS Rabat, and ASC Ville de Dakar, combined for a 12-5 record in games decided by 10 points or fewer. While the bottom two, Maktown Flyers and JCA Kings, went just 1-8, their inability to close out tight contests proved the difference between postseason basketball and an early exit.
Most Team Rebounds in a Game
The JCA Kings made history even in defeat. In their 79–74 overtime loss to Club Africain, the Ivorian champions grabbed 65 rebounds, tying the BAL record previously set by the Rivers Hoopers in May 2025. What made it even more remarkable: the Kings had already pulled down 60 rebounds by the end of regulation. Four players, Chris Crawford, Babatunde William, Chris Echui and Cheikh Diong, finished with 10 or more rebounds each. Their 23 offensive rebounds were among the highest in league history
A New Addition to the Winless Club
The JCA Kings finished 0–5, joining an unfortunate list of BAL teams that have gone winless in conference play: AS Police from Mali in 2021, GSP from Algeria in 2021, GNBC from Madagascar in 2021, Kwara Falcons from Nigeria in 2023, Stade Malien from Mali in 2025, and the Johannesburg Giants from South Africa in 2026.
A League First: 500 Career Points
Two players crossed the 500-point threshold in BAL history: Abdoulaye Harouna of FUS de Rabat became the first to do so during the 2026 Sahara Conference. Entering with 490 career points and surpassing the milestone in his second game to finish with 532 points across 31 BAL games, Chris Crawford of JCA Kings joined him as the second member of the exclusive club, having already reached 500 points before the 2026 season.
Club Africain (4-1)
The biggest story of the Sahara Conference has been Club Africain’s stunning performance. The Tunisian champions, making their first-ever BAL appearance, have been nothing short of sensational.
Led by the incomparable Omar Abada and bolstered by the inside presence of Drew Cisse and Mohamed Hadidane, they combined disciplined defence with clutch offence. Their only stumble came against FUS Rabat in the final game, but by then they had already secured the conference’s top seed.
Al Ahly Egypt (4-1)
The only former BAL champion in the conference, Al Ahly, lived up to their pedigree. Despite an opening-night stumble against Club Africain (68–69), Al Ahly responded with four straight wins to claim the conference’s second seed.
Their roster depth proved decisive, with Kevin Murphy leading the team at 20.7 PPG and Zach Lofton dropping a conference record 32 points in one game. The double-OT win over FUS Rabat, 77–71, demonstrated their mental toughness. They enter the Kigali playoffs as the team to beat. That double-overtime thriller was Al Ahly’s intense game against FUS de Rabat. The Egyptian champions pulled out a 77–71 victory after two extra periods.
FUS Rabat (3-2)
The hosts endured a rollercoaster ride at the Sahara Conference. After starting 2-0, they suffered a stunning one-point loss to ASC Ville de Dakar and lost three key players, Abdelhakim Zouita, Ilias Aqboub, and Abdoulaye Harouna to injury. Yet they showed their championship pedigree by bouncing back to defeat unbeaten Club Africain in front of a packed home crowd. With Kuany Kuany, Mouhamadou Diagne, and Anthony Pritchard stepping up, FUS Rabat proved their depth and resilience. Their third consecutive BAL appearance has seen them evolve from quarterfinalists to genuine title contenders.
ASC Ville de Dakar (3-2)
Ville de Dakar authored one of the great turnaround stories of the conference. After early losses to Club Africain and Al Ahly, they won three consecutive games, including the clutch 79–62 victory over Maktown Flyers in the winner-take-all finale to snatch the last playoff spot. After missing the playoffs last season, this qualification felt like redemption.
Maktown Flyers (1-4)
So close, yet so far. The Nigerian champions showed flashes of their potential. Their only win came against the winless JCA Kings, 88–67. A lack of bench depth and empty scoring runs, particularly in fourth quarters, proved fatal.
Al-Wajid Aminu was their standout performer, but it wasn’t enough. They became only the second Nigerian team to miss the BAL playoffs, following the Kwara Falcons in 2023.
JCA Kings (0-5)
The JCA Kings’ first BAL campaign will be remembered as a learning experience rather than a competitive one. The Ivorian side failed to secure a single victory across the conference, joining the Johannesburg Giants as the two winless teams this season.
While the results were disappointing, the exposure to continental competition should serve as valuable development for a club still building their programme. Competing against established powers like Al Ahly and FUS Rabat provided a measuring stick for where Ivorian club basketball stands.
The Sahara Conference has set the stage for what promises to be an electrifying BAL Playoffs in Kigali, Rwanda, from May 22 to 31. With Club Africain, FUS Rabat, Al Ahly, and ASC Ville de Dakar joining Kalahari Conference qualifiers RSSB Tigers, Petro de Luanda, Al Ahly Ly, and Dar City, the race for the 2026 BAL championship is wide open.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter for all the latest feature stories and previews of events on the African continent.
